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Mounfl Builder's Works, Near Newark, Ohio. 



BY ISAAC SMUCKER. 



[The substance of the following paper, descriptive of tlie 
Newark group of Mound Builder's works, was written 
for and appeared in the July number of Tlie American Anti- 
quarian, a quarterly revie^^', dev(ited to the mtercsts ot 
Ethnology and Arclueologv, published in Chicago, and edited 
by Eev. S'. D. Peet, DD.] 

In few localities are the works of the Mound Builders more 
extensive, more numerous, more labyrinthin(^ more diversi- 
tied m style and character, more gigantic in pr' )portions tlian 
those hi the immediate vicinity of Xcwark, Oliio. Mr. 
Atwater, one of Ohio's early-time arcli;e(jlogi>ts, more than 
two generations ago, personally made more or le-s tlior(UTgh 
examinations of a large proportion of the most celei»rated of 
the works of the Mound Builders in ()hi(», and al>o careful 
mathematical surveys of many of tlie nio>t ^lal>orate and 
prominent of them elsewhere : after having done so. he 
characterized those at Newark as --the inost extensive and 
intricate, as well as the most interesting in tliis State! per- 
haps in the world!" On many accounts, lie declared them 
to be "quite as remarkable as any in North America."' 

This group of Mound Builders" Works tir>t i>ecame known 
to the white settler of the Licking Valley, eighty-three years 
ago, all of them being then covered with a dense growth of 
forest trees, many of them having a circumference of more 
than ten feet, and showing by their concentric circles to have 



NEAR XEWARK, OHIO. 



had a growth of more than five hundred years. A heavy 
undergrowth also covered the works, ahnost liidmg them 
from view. In short, they were situated in the wilderness, 
when the pioneers of the valley discovered them, having 
never suffered from the ravages of the plow, nor had the 
giant growths of walnut, sugar, maple, beech, oak and wild 
cherry trees that stood upon their banks and within their 
enclosures, ever been despoiled l>y the woodman's axe. 

To give assurance to the reader of the accuracy of the 
descriptions, the writer hereof states that he has been familiar 
with the localities and antiquities here described, for more 
than fifty-five years. He saw them while yet more than 
nin--tenths of this renowned group of ancient works had 
been undisturbed by the devastating plow and harrow of the 
pioneer, or by the destructive axe of the inconoclastic woods- 
man. In those days, all of ^\ve olden time," he sometimes 
''followed the chase," though rather as an amateur hunter, 
and with the sport^^man's gun in hand, at leisure hours, 
during a period runnnig through many years, he pursued 
the game over these interesting works, which were still 
covered with a dense undergrowth and trees of gigantic size ; 
therefore, it may be claimed that he has been writing about 
something of which he ought to have some knowledge. 

He early became acquainted with Mr. Atwater, the first 
Ohio writer upon Archaeology ; read his description of these 
ancient works, not many years after The American Anti- 
quarian Society published them ; was long and intimately 
acquainted with Judge Holmes, who surveyed them for him ; 
had interchanged opinions with these gentlemen and other 
antiquarians respecting them : had lived within sight of and 
upon the border of these extensive works of the Mound 
Builders, more than fifty years ; moreover, had made the 
measurements some of them; he has therefore described works 
which have been under his own often-repeated observation, 



MorxD builder's woeks 



3 



of which he has actual personal knowledge, and of which he 
has had ample opportunities to acquire information ; stimu- 
lated withal by a wish and earnest desire to acquire all the 
knowledge attainable respecting them. 

The Eaccoon and South Fork Creeks unite on the south- 
ern borders of Newark, and these ancient works cover an 
area of three of four square miles between these streams 
and contiguous to them, extending about two miles up the 
Roccoon and a less distance up the South Fork. These 
works are situated on an elevated plain thirty or forty feet 
above these streams, the Raccoon form'ng the northerly 
boundary of said plain, and the South Fork it> southwestern 
boundary. The streams come together nearly at right 
angles, the three or four square miles of land, therefore 
covered with these ancient works, situated between said 
creeks, and extending several miles up ]:)Oth of them from 
their junction, is, 'in form, very nearly an equilateral triangle. 

The foregoing works consisted of earth mounds, both 
large and small, in considerable numV)ers, of parallel walls 
or embankments, of no great but tolerably uniform height : of 
small circles, partial or incompleted circles, semi or open 
circles, all of low, but well-marked emljankments or walls ; 
of enclosures of various forms and heights, such as large 
circles— one parallelogram, one octagon, and, others which 
may have become partiahy or wholly obliterated under the 
operation of the plow, or through the devastating action of 
the elements, their banks have been originally of small ele- 
vation, and among them one of the class designated as ''ef- 
figy mounds." This remains in a good state of preservation, 
situated within and about the center of the largest circular 
enclosure, kno^vn as "The Old Fort," and will be described 
further on, only remarking here that it is a representation 
of an immense bird ''on the wing." and is called "Eagle 
Mound." 



NEAK XAWARK, OHIO. 



By reference to the cut representing the XeAvark earthworks 
it will be seen that there is, north of the railroad, a circular 
fort or enclosure, marked thirty acres (which, however, 
should be only twenty t, connected by parallel banks with 
another of octagon form, havmg eight openings, with a pro- 
tection mound or embankment covering each of the entran- 
ces. This contains fifty acres, and a large portion of it 
has been plowed over, althongli the banks are readily trace- 
able and the portion of it that remains in the woods still 
shows the banks to be five or six feet in height. The gate- 
ways are about fifteen feet wide, and the walls inside of each 
are of the same height and size of the enclosure generally, 
and are about four feet longer [than the width of tlie open- 
mgs or gateways. The Avails of this work, as well as those 
of the circular enclosure witli which it is connected, are 
as nearly perpendicular as the earth could be made to lie, 
but are quite a number of feet in width on the top, even where 
the plow has not run over them . It will be observed that there 
is a considerable enlargement of the bankof the circular enclos- 
ure, directly opposite the entrance into it, through the par- 
allel walls or covered way connecting it with the octagon en- 
closure. This was, doubtless, an observatory, and command- 
ed an extensive view of the plain and over the whole system 
of works. This observatory lias been greatly mutilated and 
despoiled hy excavations into it and by the removal of con- 
siderable of the stone and earth that composed it: still, 
although in ruins, it is twenty feet or more in height, while 
tlie banks of the enclosure, generally, are not ten feet. 
Under this observatory, it i- probal^le, there was a secret 
or subterranean passage to a stream that flowed near it. 

The cut shows three covered Avays or parallel walls that 
lead across the railroad to other portions of this group of 
works. One conducts to a circular work, nowalmast obliter- 
ated, situated at the crossing of the canal by the railroad. 



MorxD bfilber's works, 



5 



Another leads directly into the square enclosure marked 
twenty acres, which has an entrance at each corner, and also 
at the northeast and southwest sides, the latter having two 
covered ways to the enclosure. All the gateways or entran- 
ces are protected by small mounds inside, as in tiie case of 
the octagon. The Ohio canal passes through this work, and 
so also does an extensively traveled State road : and the 
portion of this square enclosure whose banks have not been 
thus obliterated has been cultivated for at least half a century 
so that its high banks or walls, wliich, probal)ly were never 
very high, are now barely traceable. 

None of these works, except the ''Old Fort," had any moats 
or ditches connected with tliem either inside or outside. 
Parallel walls, with the space between widening as they ap- 
proach the gateway of the '"Old Fort," the most gigantic of 
all the works of this group, connected this square enclosure 
with it, as well as with other works of this group. The 
parallel walls that extend southward from one of the gate- 
ways of the octagonal work, as seen in the cut, was traceable 
many miles in the direction of the Hockhocking river, at 
some point north of Lancaster, where Mr. Atwater thought 
it connected with other similar Avorks. It is not known to 
the writer, however, that any eti'ort was ever made to follow 
these parallel walls to ascertain with certainty that the space 
between them did or did not serve the purpose of a road 
between this point and the Hockhocking. 

The ^'Old Fort" is situated a mile and a half in a south- 
westerly direction from the Court House in XcAvark. and be- 
longs to the class of Mound Builders' works known as enclos- 
ures. It is not a true circle, the respective diameters being 
eleven hundred and tif ty and twelve liundred and fifty feet. Its 
banks, nearly a mile in length, were formed by throwing up 
the earth on the inside, which left a ditch of sloping sideS; 
ten feet fin many places mores in depth, and ranges in per- 



XEAR NEWARK, OHIO. 



pendicular height, measurmg, from bottom of ditch to top of 
bank, from twenty to thirty feet. This enclosure, which em- 
braces within it about twenty-seven acres of land, was con- 
structed on level ground, and the ditch above described was 
often seen, during the earlier decades of the present century 
partially, and sometimes Avholly, filled with water all around 
the circle. From some cause it has not held water of late 
years to any great extent. Viewed from the outside, the 
embankment does not rise inore than ten or fifteen feet above 
the surface of the surrounding ground, but observed from 
its top, the eye taking in the depth of the ditch, it seems, of 
course, much liigher, so as to correspond in height, at least, 
to the ligures aV)0ve given. 

The "Old Fort" has an entrance or gateway which is flank- 
ed by a high bank or parapet on either side of it, running 
outward forty yards. The gateway and parallel walls or 
parapets are on tlie eastern side of the circle, and the ditch 
which follows it also extends to the termination of the parallel 
banks that cover the entrance. Flere the banks are the highest; 
the parallel walls, as well as those which form the circle im- 
mediately adjoining them at the gateway, reaching, for a 
short distance, a perpendicular height of at least thirty feet, 
measuring from the bottom of the ditch, or twenty feet 
measuring on the outside. The gatev\^ay or entrance measure? 
seventy-live feet between the ditches or moats, and between 
the parapets or Itanks of earth that flank the entrance, one. 
hundred and thirty feet. 

Trees of a large size are still growing upon the banks, all 
around the circle, as well as upon the parallel walls at the 
entranr-e. They are equal in size to those that are yet found 
both on tlie outside of the enclosure and within it, and of 
the same A'arieties. Some of them measure ten feet in circum- 
ference and are still thrifty, giving no indications of decay. 
One of the largest trees that stood on this embankment was 



MOU^'D builder's WORKS, 



cut down in 1815, and its concentric circles showed that it had 
attained the venerable age of live hundred and fifty years. 
Many others of its contemporaries, too, are still flourishing 
and enjoying an equally vigorous '^green old age." This 
fact may be borne in mind as indicating the antiquity of this 
wonderful work, especially when taken in connection with 
the strong probabilities that this tree, of now more than six 
centuries ago, was more likely of the second or third growth 
of trees than of the first, after the Mound Builders had erect- 
ed this enclosure which is only one of the extensive series of 
labyrinthine works, whose embankments measure many miles 
in length, and which, by low parallel banks were connected 
with otliers of similar character, as remote from them as are 
those of the Hockhocking and (jther distant places. 

In the middle of the "Old Fort"' is an elevatioii. evidently 
artificial, which never fails to attract the attention of the 
observing, and is generally designated as "Eagle Mound." 
It is full six feet high, an.d is in the forin and shape of an 
eagle in flight, with Avings outspread, measuring from 
tip to tip two liundred and forty feet, and from head to tail 
two hundred and ten feet, and is clearly of tlie effigy class of 
the works of the Mound Builders. It faces the eiitrance^ 
and therefore lies in an east and wnst direction, its wings 
extending north and south. Excavations made many years 
ago into the ceiiter of this earthen figure, where the elevation 
is greatest, developed an altar ljuilt of stone, upon whicli 
were found allies, cliarcoal and calcined l)ones, showing that 
it liad been used for sacrificial purposes. 

Many have held the opinion that the ''Old Fort" was a 
military work, constructed for defence ; but its location on a 
level plain, its synnnetrical form and inside ditch, and the 
iiidications of the presence of fire seen on the altar, and its 
sacrificial uses so clearly suggested, all go to render this 
opinion erro]ieous, or to say tlie least, one higldy improbable. 



XEAE NEWARK, OHIO. 



All the known facts pertaining to it go to raise the presump- 
tion that within its enclosure Avere conducted, by Mound 
Builders, the rites anl ceremonies of their religion, they 
having manifestly been a religious and superstitious race, 
given to the practice of offering up human as well as animal 
sacrifices. 

Others havH ] >eiicv(^d that the "Old Fort" was the seat of 
governnu'nt of the Mound Builders, and that their monarch 
resided here : and still others have held that within this en- 
closure they practiced tlieir national games, and amusements, 
similar, possibly, to the Olympic, Nemean, Pythian and Isth- 
mian games that were so universally popular with the en- 
lightened Greeks during the "Lyrical Ages of Greece." 
Others, still, hold different opinions, but I think the weight 
of evidence is altogetlier in favor of the theory that the --Old 
Fort," one of the most renowned of all the Mound Builders' 
w-'orks, Avas constructed for the use of a sacred enclosure, and 
was. therefore, primarily bnilt and used for purposes con- 
nected with their religion : allu-it it may have also been their 
seat of govermnent. and residence of their monarch : and may 
posibly. aho liave l>een sometimes used for the practice of 
their national games. Least likely of all is the notion that it 
W'^as constructed for ni'litary purposes or Avas CA'er used as a 
defensive work. 

It was in October, h^uih Avhen Isaac Stadden, a pioneer set- 
tler in the Licking A^illey discovered it, and it is not certain 
so far as is knoAvn to the Avriter. that any of the white race 
had CA'er ^een it before the above date. 

The foregoing are tlie principal Avorks of the Mound Build- 
ers of the Xewark group that remain. As already indicated, 
many of them that ^vere in a good state of preserA'ation very 
many years after Mr. Atwater had them surveyed, haA'e been 
utterly destroyed Iw agencies heretofore mentioned : but as 
an additional and potent ag-ncy in their demolition, the pro- 



MOTND BUILDEK'S WORKS 



9 



cess of building a to\\Ti i West Newark) upon them, already 
numbering its inhabitants by hundreds, has been going on of 
late years, and naturally enough, as far as its streets, alleys 
and lots extend, the ancient works have all been leveled by 
he plow, the scraper and the shoveF. 

At and near the termination of some "of the connecting par- 
allel walls, or embankments, there were, originally, at many 
points, watch-towers, or small mounds of observation, which 
have almost wholly disappeared, the plow having been run 
over most of them for half a century or more. When Mr. 
Atwater tirst surveyed or rather had these works surveyed by 
Judge Holmes (who was a competent surveyor) more than 
sixty years ago— they being still m the wilderness— the afore- 
said watch-towers, or small mounds of observation, were yet 
so plainly observable that he located them on his map or en- 
gi-aving of these ancient works. But they and many other.- 
are gone— entirely ol)literated. Some disappeared when the 
Ohio canal was run through this group of ancient works, in 
1827 : others were destroyed thu'ty years ago. when the road- 
bed of the Central Ohio railroad was constructed, Avhich runs 
for a mile or more through this triangle of ancient earth- 
works: a number more were demolished within a few years, 
during the progress of the erection of extensive buildings for 
rolling mill purposes: and others, many others, as Aveil as 
low banks or parallel connecting wall> or endxinknients. and 
small observatories, have disappeared under the long con- 
tinued ravages of tht- plow. 

The author of the recently published '-Hi-tory of Licking 
County," remarks as follows upon some of these obliterated 
ed mounds : 

''A curious group of mound-- that attracted the attention 
and wonder of the pioneers were unfortunately destroyed by 
the building of the Central (')hio railroad. They were not 
far from the ''Old Fort." and ^t^od iu^t at thefoot of Cherry 



10 



NEAR NEWARK, OHIO. 



v alley, and a little east of the Ohio canal, where the above 
mentioned railroad crosses it. Three of these mounds stood 
hPttpp^^h^^^^^^ and south; the fourth was a little east and 
betTveen the two northern ones. Thev were all joined tosreth- 
er at the base. In the destruction of this remarkable Rroup 
ot mounds, many interesting relics and facts were unearthed 
that appear worth preservation. The mound farthest south 
was mcliKled m the embankment of the Central Ohio railroad 
Kw^ '^'^ destroyed. The other three were greatly injur- 
ed by the earth being taken to make the railroad embank- 
wi' A ii^ound was the largest, and was about 

twenty feet high This was finally leveled to form the site 
tor a rolling mill. The upper eight feet of this mound was 
composed almost entirely of black loam, which appeared m 
layers. These layers or strata had se^nis where the earth 
clKl not unite, although it appeared to be of the same charac- 
tel^ Between these layers there were often marks of fire, 
and m one place, from four to six inches extending across 

o^V'T''^^'^H'^''''i'r'^^ ^'^^'^^^g ^^^^^i^ks of fire, with charcoal 
and ashes. The different layers of earth did not often reach 
all over the^mound-^ sometimes not over more than a fourth 
01 It, and often overlapped each other at the edges. It would 
sc^em that these layers of earth were put on at considerable 
intervals ot time, first on one side then on the other, the 
cutterent sides of the mound varving in structure. In the 
upper eight teet of this mound, no human or other bones Avere 
louncl. !;5everal fine sheets of mica were taken out. A hole 
near the center was observed to continue down verv near to 
tne bottom of the mound. In some places this was filled 
i^^^^^'^r dmermg from the earth around it. In the lower 
eignt teet of the mound, quite a number of these perpendic> 
ular holes were observed. One on the east side was filled 
with line charcoal and ashes, and extended fullv four feet 
below the surrounding surface of the earth. The whole base 
ot this mound was of disturbed earth, four or more feet be- 
low the surrounding surface. Some six or eight of these 
post holes were discovered, but none but the center one con- 
tinued tor more than a few feet. They were mostlv filled 
Avith fine sand. About one-half of the lower portion of the 
mound was made of layers of blue clay; then there was a 
layer ot sand, followed by one of cobble-stone, Avhich appeared 
to be immediately over a strong burning. This laver of stone 



MOUXD builder's WORKS, 



11 



was about live feet from the base. In the middle momid the 
layer of cobble stone was about eight feet from the base ; was 
in the center of the mound sixteen inches thick, and ext.iicU 
ed all over it, thinning out towards the edges. The cobble 
stones, in all places, seemed to be put on immediately over 
the burning, none of the stones having the marks of fire, ex- 
cept those coming in contact with the burnt earth. The 
heat of the fire inust have been intense, for the small stones 
in places, were qtiite friable, and m many places marked with 
oxide of iron. This iron appearance led many to think that 
iron tools might have been placed there and rusted out. 

"In the fourth motmd, the cobble-stones were placed 
over ljurnings and on a level with the surrounding surface, 
and covered with creek sand. The l)lue clay in the northern 
mound must have V>een V)rought from a distance, there 
being none near like it. 

"About three feet below the surrounding surface of the 
earth, and near the bottom of the large mound, the work- 
men, in digging the pit for the. fly-wheel, found several 
pieces of bones and a part of the jaAv of a liuman beings 
with one tooth yet remaining in it. All the bones gave 
evidence of great age, and were in small pieces. 

''The cobble-stone layers in these moimds and the post 
holes are unusual features. Could the latter have been for 
a frame work, from whicli to suspend victims for sacrifice?" 

" Surrounding this entire group of mounds was a cobble- 
stone way eiglit feet wide. This is yet plainly to be seen 
north of \he railroad, but tlie remainder has been destroyed. 
This oblong circle of stone must have l;)een one hundred 
vards in its north and south diameter, and sixty-six yards 
east and west. Within sight of this group of mounds were 
originally about one dozen. Mar.y of these have l)een de- 
stroyed. ' The digging of the pit "^f or the fly-wheel revealed 
the lower portion of "this mound better than examinations 
lieretofore made, and showed plainly that human beings had 
been l)uried at least four feet beneath the surroimding sur- 
face of the earth. 

''During the excavating process, the place was visited by 
many citizens and gentlemen from a distance, and much in- 
terest taken. 

" The greater portion of these motmds being composed of 
sand and loam, may accoimt for the paucity of bones found 



XEAE NEWARK, OHIO. 



ill them. The best perserved skeletons are found where the 
ground is mostly clay. 

"It was observed*^ by the early settlers that the Indians 
buried their dead in and about these mounds : but the^e 
burials were thought to be easily distinguishable from those 
of the Mound Builders. 

^' In 1827, while digging the Ohio Canal, a small mound 
was dug out where the second lock now stands. Many hu- 
man bones were found similar to those in the group above 
mentioned. 

'' Several skeletons were found buried near these mounds 
which were no doubt, those of Indians, the bones indicating 
no great age, and having copper instruments buried with 
them. Xear one was found two copper quivers for arrows 
and a large shell which had apparently been used as a drink- 
ing cup. Another small skeleton had by its side a quiver for 
arrows, and a copper hatchet, with beads and other trinkets. 
These Indians and Mound Builders appeared to have two 
things m common : one was the copper implements, and the 
other the sheets of mica. This latter is found in their 
mounds and mixed with their crockery. The small Indian 
skeleton referred to above was partly covered with mica 
some of It adhering to the bones. Another skeleton was 
found, covered with large sheets of mica : at least half a peck 
of mica, with the bones were brought to town. This, at the 
time, was supposed to be the remains of an Indian. All the 
copper yet found in the mounds in this region has been na- 
tive, unsmelted. 

''According to some antiquarians, these mounds would be 
called sacrificial or altar mounds, but the truth is that most, 
if not all, in this vicinity are of a similar character, and 
might. With the same propriety, be called sacrificial, for, as a 
general thing, a skeleton, or sometimes two or three, side by 
side, are found covered with earth, then evidence of fire, 
then another skeleton covered in the same way, and so on; 
but these skeletons and evidences of fire do not extend reo-- 
ularly over the mound. Sometimes a skeleton and a burnino- 
will be found only on one side, and then again on the other 
at a different elevation ; but almost always in every mound 
IS found one grand burning extending all over the niound, as 
if they had been a grand ceremony for the benefit of all 
those buried beneath. In the large mound above mentioned 



MOUND BOLDEK'S AA ORKS, 



there were two of these general burnings. Sometimes, hu- 
man bones are found with the marks of fire, indicatmg the 
probabihty of hmnan sacrifices." 

To recapitulate, it may be observed that the Newark group 
of Mound Builders' works embraced circular, quadrilateral 
and octagonal enclosures— parallel embankments— covered 
^vays— an effigy mound as in the middle of The Old Fort," 
known as Eagle Mound,"— parapets, as those flanking the 
entrance of gateway of '-The Old Fort "—protection Avails, 
as those inside of the angles of the square and octagonal en- 
closures— Avatch-towers, such as were situated near the ter- 
mination of parallel Avails— an Observatory Mound," as the 
one on the bank of the Circular Mound connected with the 
Octagon, and facing the entrance into it from the latter- 
half circles— partially open circles— a sacrificial mound, 
called " Eagle Mound," being of the effigy class, (also called 
Animal Mounds, and Emblematic or Symbolical Mounds)— 
and, finally, burial inounds, being those which, on examina- 
tion, Avere found to contain human skeletons, and Avhich are 
sometimes styled Sepulchral Mounds. 

The writer is not able to say Avith certainty that any trun- 
cated or Temple Mound, used hi connection Avith their re- 
hgious ceremonies, or memorial or Monumental Mounds, 
erected to perpetuate the memory of some important event 
or in honor of some distinguished character, or Condenma- 
tory Mounds belonged to the XeAvark group of Mound 
Builders' AA^orks. If at any time there Avere such, they have 
been obliterated in the process of digging the canal, the rail- 
road bed, the foundations for a rolling-mill and machine 
works, constructing several State and neighborhood roads, 
in excavating and grading the streets and alleys of West 
XcAvark, and by running the ploAV-share over and through 
them for half a century or more, thereby overslaughing 
Archaeology to the great profit of Agriculture. 



14 



NEAR XEWAEK, OHIO. 



The inside of one of the most conspicuous enclosures of 
the group of Mound Builders' works in the vicinity of Xew- 
ark, containing twenty-seven acres, and the adjacent grounds 
on the outside of the enihankment and all around it, con- 
stitute the Fair Grounds of The Licking County Agricultural 
Society, where their fair> are annually held ; and it may be 
confident ily asserted that in arch^ological interest, and 
numerous other attractive features, and in their adaptation 
to the purposes of a County Agricultural Society, our Fair 
Grounds are surpassed by few, if any, in the United States. 

XOTE— Mention is made iu the last but one of the foregoing para- 
graphs, of Condemnatory Mounds, and, as public attention has not been 
extensively called to this class of Mound Builders' works. I may be per- 
mitted a brief explanation We have a few of what may be properly 
called Condemnatory or Imprecatory Mounds in Licking County (one 
being situated about a mile northwest of Tanattaburg), and probably 
more in Ohio than is generally supposed. They abound in some Orien- 
tal countries, and especially in Bible Lands, as will appear from the 
following historical references to them in the Scriptures : 

Achan. who appears on the Scripture records as a thief, was stoned 
and burned for his crime, and buried. " and a great heap of stones wbs 
raised ovef him . " See Joshua, chapter 7. verse 25. 

The wicked king of the ancient Israelitish city of Ai was captured 
by Joshua, and hanged on a tree until even-tide, when he was taken 
down and buried, and a great heap of stones was piled on his grave." 
See Joshua, chapter 8, verse 29. 

The allied kings (five in number) were conquered by Joshua, and 
hanged for their wickedness, and '-cast into a cave and great stones laid 
into the cave's mouth.-'* See Joshua, chapter 10, verse 27. 

And Absalom, the rebellious son of David, having been slain, it is 
stated in the second book of Samuel, chapter IS, verse 17 that '' they took 
him and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap 
of stones upon him." 

It thus seems that among the very ancient Israelites 
piles of stones were heaped upon the graves of persons who 
died under pubhc contempt or condemnation, and whose 
memory was execrated, and those heaps of stones are ap- 

fll 1.0.4 



MOUND builder's WORKS. 



15 



propriately named Condemnatory, Objurgatory or Impre- 
catory Mounds. They seem to have arisen by the gradual 
process of each passer-by throwmg a stone upon the grave, 
and thereby slowly rearmg mounds of the above classification, 
bearing a title indicating feelings and expressions of detesta- 
tion, scorn, contempt, execration. Possibly, our prehistoric 
races were indebted to the Israelites of ancient times for the 
idea, the purpose, the method of construction of this class of 
mounds ! 



4 o 



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"'^'ono^* -Oj"^ O Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 

*<^-v .V ^ ^ ^ <^ ' ^ Neutralizing agent; Magnesium Oxide 

^ - ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Treatment Date: March 2010 

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